Rats and mice have been rated to be the most destructive vertebrae in the world with damage amounting to upwards of tens of billions every year. They are deemed so because these rodents are a significant fire hazard- the suspect in a quarter of all the fires of unknown origin. They are the culprits in some of the most harrowing diseases that have plagued the world. The rodents have been proven to spread almost fifty-five kinds of diseases, including typhus, Lyme disease, and the plague. The outbreak of the hantavirus has solely been attributed to the deer mouse.
These facts make them about the most unpopular pests that can infest homes and cause untold woe and anxiety. It is particularly irritating because rats and mice love sharing in man’s food and shelter. Thus they invade workplaces, hospitals, restaurants, schools, homes, churches, food processing plants and etc. They will use the couch and they just know where man’s food store is. These creatures with amazing permeability will find their way through plumbing voids and circulation vents to wreak their nuisance. It is almost impossible to rodent-proof a home as rat’s teeth are reputedly harder than steel or iron and can without a hassle gnaw through wood or cinderblock, that is according to Moh’s scale of mineral hardness. It is this ability that makes it possible for them to produce many thousands of fecal pellets and urine in places of sleep and eating; places that man prefers would be clean always.
That is not enough. Rats are also deemed to be tough. The reason they can be found in almost all corners of the globe is due to their hardy nature. A rat can endure without water more than a camel. If thrown five stories down, it may still escape unhurt. They can survive intense radiation, and they are able to swim on open water for up to a mile! And shockingly, they can over time develop immunity to poison.
Rodents are not always a nuisance
The importance of mice and rats in medical research cannot be overstated. Lately, although mired in controversy, these rodents have found use in tissue engineering where the rodents grow skin and cartilage that is transplanted into humans.
Another area that rodents have been found to be useful in is in detecting tuberculosis. The Gambian pouched rat is reputed for its ability to examine a sample of sputum and give cues as to whether it is infected, considerably faster than if a human was doing it through scientific methods. No need to mention that they are a favored delicacy in some parts of Africa, China, and other areas of southeast Asia.
The mouse is a shamanic emblem of wisdom, scrutiny, organization, and discovery. And true to that, mice are known to be intelligent creatures and have various levels of communication which is both vocal and odorous. They empathize with each other and have cultivated facial expressions that convey moods to others. The mice are also very clean, organized, and tidy.
